4 Things Your Plumber Wishes You Knew

February 2, 2017

Your friendly neighborhood plumber is always happy to help you out with your plumbing troubles!

Plumbers know just how easy it is to mess up a plumbing system. It’s something you use every day and these systems are subject to normal wear and tear. In addition, some people mistreat their plumbing or exacerbate small problems by trying to fix them themselves. Your plumber certainly enjoys his job and fixing plumbing problems! However, there are a few things your plumber wishes you knew to keep plumbing problems from getting worse.

1. You Can’t Flush Just Anything Down the Toilet

Toilets are designed for a specific purpose. Trying to flush things that don’t belong in the toilet is a great way to ruin your plumbing system. Among the things plumbers have found in clogged toilets include baby wipes, cotton balls, cat litter, paper towels, and disposable diapers. If you have small children, grab some lid locks for your bowls to stop them from flushing toys down the toilet.

2. Your Garbage Disposal Can’t Process Everything

Just as with toilets, some people assume that the garbage disposal unit in your kitchen sink can take anything you put in it. While disposals can handle a lot of different materials, there are a few things such as fruit rinds that they can’t. Also, you shouldn’t drain compounds like paint in your sink, even if you’re simply washing a bucket; they can collect and harden in your pipes, causing bigger problems down the road.

3. Don’t Put Added Weight on Fixtures

Fixtures are not designed to support a lot of weight. Hanging a shower caddy on your showerhead is fine, but don’t overload it. And never use your tub spout as a foot rest!

4. Only DIY If You Know What You’re Doing

It’s understandable that you’d want to save money by fixing your plumbing problems yourself. In fact, there are a few DIY fixes that just about anyone can learn without the help of a plumber. But if you’re not careful, you can create bigger problems that can cost more down the line. For example, it’s very easy to create a leak by overtightening metal or plastic couplings. If you’re having a plumbing problem but aren’t quite sure how to fix it, don’t risk it! Call a professional plumber to diagnose and fix the problem!

A RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL PLUMBING COMPANY YOU CAN TRUST

Alpha Plumbing is a full-service plumbing and contracting company serving the Baltimore and Annapolis metro area with expertise in all aspects of plumbing. We’re family-owned and operated since 1991 from our office in Pasadena. We offer quality plumbing services at reasonable rates in a timely fashion. Our trucks are equipped with GPS systems to ensure we’re prompt and on time. No job is too large or too small! We maintain a fleet of well-stocked trucks and also own and operate our own backhoes for jobs requiring excavation.

For more information and to get a free no-obligation estimate, you can contact us on our website, send us an e-mail, or give us a call at (410) 255-5998.